Ng coalescence

NG coalescence (or the singer-finger split) is the name given to a sound change in the history of English by which word-final {{IPA|}} was deleted after {{IPA|}} in words like sing; this sound change happened around the end of the 16th century.

Related Topics:
English - 16th century

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As a result of NG coalescence, Middle English {{IPA|}} sing came to be pronounced {{IPA|}}. As well as in word-final position, NG coalescence was applied also in cases where a verb ending in -ng was followed by a vowel-initial suffix, so singing and singer also underwent the change. Otherwise, word-internal -ng- did not undergo coalescence and the pronunciation {{IPA|}} was retained, as in finger and angle. Additionally, in adjectives ending in -ng the {{IPA|}} is retained when the comparative and superlative suffixes are added, so younger, strongest, etc., do not show coalescence.

Related Topics:
Middle English - Verb - Suffix - Comparative - Superlative

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As a result of the differing effects of this sound change word-internally, the words finger and singer do not rhyme in most accents of English, although they did in Middle English.

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Some accents, however, do not show the full effects of NG coalescence as described above, and in these accents sing may be found with {{IPA|}}, the suffix -ing may be pronounced {{IPA|}}, and pairs like singer and finger may rhyme. This is particularly associated with English English accents in an area of northern England and the Midlands, including the cities of Birmingham (see Brummie), Manchester, Liverpool (see Scouse), Sheffield and Stoke on Trent. It is also associated with some American English accents in the New York area. Some of the accents of these areas may be considered to lack the phoneme {{IPA|/?/}}, as the sound {{IPA|}} can be thought of as an allophone of {{IPA|/n/}} before {{IPA|/g/}} or {{IPA|/k/}}. (Wells 1982)

Related Topics:
English English - Birmingham - Brummie - Manchester - Liverpool - Scouse - Sheffield - Stoke on Trent - American English - New York - Phoneme - Allophone

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In some accents of the west of Scotland and Ulster, NG coalescence is extended to word-internal position, so that finger is pronounced {{IPA|/f???r/}}.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Ulster

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